The spiritual tradition of yoga from past to present-benefits of yoga-yoga meditation

1. Ashram Yoga Ashram Yoga - - The Spiritual Tradition The Spiritual Tradition of Yoga From Past to Present of Yoga From Past to Present Exploring the Different Types of Yoga Exploring the Different Types of Yoga Presented Presented By By capitano capitano https://bit.ly/2Edzy3x Saving Yoga Studio Management Software Software For more click here Finding Time Finding Time- -Saving Yoga Studio Management For more click here

2. Finding Time Finding Time- -Saving Yoga Studio Management Software Saving Yoga Studio Management Software Running and building up a yoga studio requires coordinating scheduling, marketing, accounting, class registration, class attendance, sales and credit card processing, inventory, payroll, staff management, documents, and so much more. When you started teaching yoga, you wanted to teach yoga. Sure, you knew running a yoga studio or teaching classes involved administration, but perhaps running your yoga business is taking over your life. Ask yourself: How many software applications are you running to keep it all together? Are you using a fleet of spreadsheets? The fact is there is some pretty cool software options available specifically designed for yoga studios that take care of all your yoga studio administration needs in a central, online location. 3 Fundamental Elements of A Great Yoga Studio Software Service: Cloud computing capability (web-based software); and Comprehensive, all-in-one yoga software that centralizes all your yoga studio administration operations. Automation - the more the better. Typically this is easier with comprehensive, all- in-one software. 1. Cloud Computing Yoga Studio Management Software is Where It's At Cloud computing is web-based software. You simply log-in to your account and manage your entire yoga studio on the Web. Stop with the downloads, installations, networking, and upgrades that plague desk-top software

3. applications. Seriously consider putting your entire yoga studio software management needs on the cloud. 2. Centralizing Your Yoga Studio Software Integrating separate pieces of software is a never-ending headache. When one application is upgraded, it then doesn't sync with other applications. What you get is a mish-mash of software that more often than not malfunctions. Instead of saving you time, you burn up time trying to get it all working together. If you can, get yoga studio software that is comprehensive and meets all, or as much of your computing needs as possible. 3. Automation The more you automate, the more time you save which lets you teach more or take more time off. The fact is, running a yoga studio is managing a large number of

4. variables - students, staff, teachers, schedules, inventory, sales, etc. The goal is full classes and regular students. Automation helps you take care of the menial tasks so you can put your mind and time to activities you enjoy and that let you build your yoga business (and take a vacation). Yoga Business Software Features to Look For Not all yoga studios have the same needs. The remainder of this article sets out yoga studio software management features available. Go through them and see what it is you need. 1. Yoga Class Scheduling Online class scheduling - this is an extremely customer-service friendly feature for your students. Consider the following functions you might want: Wait-lists: let your students add their name to a waitlist. With software, save yourself the time of managing these lists. Let the software do the heaving lifting. Student self check-in: spare your students standing in line waiting for you. Let your students scan their ID card and get to class. You also get time to set up and prepare for class. Printable sign-in sheets: maybe you prefer physical sign-in sheets. Get software that offers a print option with sign-in templates. You can load the data later... or not. Equipment and room rental scheduling: do you rent out rooms and/or equipment? Why not automate the process and make it easy for your yoga clientele to book your rooms and equipment themselves.

5. Recurring bookings: nothing builds a business like recurring customers. Make it easy for yoga students to book multiple classes and commit to your classes. Class attendance statistics: You only know how your business is going if you can measure results. Software that produces easy-to-read reports on class attendance statistics gives you tools at your finger-tips to assess your money-making classes and classes that may not be worth having. 2. Scheduling Ease Drag and drop functionality for booking is a real luxury. In fact, drag and drop anything is great. Make it easy for your clientele to book classes and appointments with you. On the Cloud (web-based): Not only does cloud computing save you networking costs, upgrade hassles, and installation nightmares, but you can access your entire yoga business anywhere. Multiple schedule views: daily, weekly, by name, service, gender and more. Birds- eye views of your schedule can be very handy when looking at the big picture.

6. Color coding scheduling: sure, you must memorize the colors, but in time the colors will speed up your viewing of your schedules. 3. Yoga Studio Enrollment Options Perhaps you offer more than just yoga classes. If so, look for yoga studio management software that has the flexibility to schedule all types of events such as: Courses: still a popular yoga class structure - a series of classes building on concepts. Seminars / special events: do you ever have a speaker or teaching events? Make it easy for people to sign up and a breeze for you to manage the scheduling. Plus software that enables: Payment plan processing: yoga studios usually offer a variety of pricing packages. Make it easy to sell packages (without the hand-held calculator) by considering software that tabulates and accepts payment for yoga packages. Payment status information: every business has some customers who owe money. Yoga studios are no exception (generally). See at-a-glance who owes you money (and how much). 4. Payment Processing Credit card integration. Some yoga software includes credit card processing "on the cloud" sparing you the hardware to pay for and set up. Link payments with services. This way you can produce financial statements any time to see the financial status of your business.

7. Membership cards (i.e. swipe cards for signing in) and ID tag capability: Lose the paper and look professional with swipe cards enabling self-check in and much faster client tracking. 5. Online Store for More Revenues If you sell retail, why not create an online store? It's simple to do with the right yoga studio software. There is software that includes e-commerce capabilities so that not only can you track your in-studio retail sales, but you can actually start selling off your website. For more click here For more click here

8. In fact, you could consider partnering with yoga and health products suppliers to provide you products to sell on your online store. You can carry inventory or enter drop-shipping arrangements. The sky is the limit. Moreover, with e-commerce, you can sell gift cards, yoga class packages, event tickets, etc. 6. Yoga Gift Card Selling Option Gift cards are BIG business. Why not sell your own gift cards? You'll earn revenues and get more students in your yoga studio. Some yoga studio software has the capability to provide gift cards and program them with the software so that you can create them, sell them, and track usage. Other considerations when implementing gift cards for sale include: Prepaid gift card options. Able to track student account balances. Loading gift cards with flexible amounts of money. Selling your gift cards in your studio and online. 7. Email Marketing for Your Yoga Studio E-mail marketing can give your yoga business a huge boost. If you get yoga studio software, see if you can find a product that integrates with e-mail marketing software. This way you can leverage your yoga studio software contact database with your e-mail marketing rather than having separate databases. Trust me - when you can centralize, it's worth it.

9. Not only can you use e-mail marketing to get more students or encourage regular attendance, but you promote sales, encourage referrals, sell products and yoga packages, promote events, send out class reminders, and more. When you centralize your yoga studio student database with e-mail marketing software, you can segment your students so that you send the most appropriate messages to each person. For example, if a student signs up online for a class, you can automate reminder class messages. This way you improve your class attendance, and in a worst case scenario, if the student can't attend, they'll be reminded to remove their name off the schedule opening up a spot for the wait list. Then your e-mail system will produce an e-mail to the wait list alerting them to the open spot. Imagine doing all this manually. Automation is key. 8. Yoga Studio Inventory Tracking If you sell retail, tracking inventory digitally can save you a lot of time. However, you need software that tracks the stocking and sale of items. Moreover, if you get software that includes inventory tracking, look for the capability to track in-store and online sales. Again, this goes toward centralizing your operation. By tracking inventory with your yoga studio management software, you'll integrate inventory with sales which lets you produce up-to-date financial reports... not to mention save you time syncing inventory with sales and re-ordering. 9. Yoga Student Account Management When you use cloud software, you can create accounts for all of your students - so both you and they can log-in to their accounts. This way you and your students can track purchases, their profile, class attendance, referrals, etc. This is very convenient for you and your students.

10. Liability: What about the dreaded waivers. Necessary, but not a lot of fun. If you let students sign up online, be sure you offer an e-waiver for them to agree to. This too is available with some yoga studio software. 10. Yoga Studio Staff Management Whether you love managing staff or not, consider saving yourself time and the ability to manage your staff "on the cloud". Some yoga studio software enables you to do some or all of the following features: A staff dashboard portal where you can send instructions to staff and to-do items. Individual staff log-in accounts for each staff member. Permission levels to various portals of your software. Again, this is where centralization works for you big time. Staff scheduling - lose the monthly printouts and create staff schedules online where your entire staff can access it anytime from anywhere. Scheduling staff with software is much more convenient than on paper. Beside, how often does the schedule change in a month? Save yourself a few erasers. 11. Look for Payroll Management Do you know how much you're paying out in wages, commissions, fees, etc.? It's not so easy to track with a yoga studio business given the variety of remuneration options yoga teachers opt for. There's hourly, commissions, flat rates, and combinations of these payment options. Again, a quality yoga software product will track all your pay-rates for all your staff - no matter how complicated. It makes tallying the amount you owe easy.

11. Take for example, a yoga teacher that earns a flat rate plus a per student rate after a class attendance threshold is met. Okay, one class with one teacher isn't too hard to track, but imagine 30 classes and 5 teachers. It gets complicated. Look for software that will track and tally all of this for you - all calculated with the swipe cards issued to your yoga students (if you opt for swipe cards - now you're starting to see how beneficial swipe cards can be). Another payroll feature to look for is a punch clock for hourly employees. I'm not talking about a wall-mounted contraption. I'm talking about staff being able to quickly log into the cloud software and entering start and stop times at the touch of a button. Finally, you want to be able to export all this payroll data into your accounting software saving you reconciliation hassles come tax time (and saving you lots of money in accounting fees). 12. Track and Measure - Look for Reporting Capability You won't know where your business is going if you don't know where it's been and where it's at. This boils down to the financials - but not just the usual income statement, balance sheet, and cash flow statement. I'm talking about in-depth class attendance, payroll costs, number of students per yoga teacher, yoga student and employee retention rates, no shows, product returns, and sales figures (past, present and forecasts) - to name a few reporting capabilities to look for. 13. Scalability - Get Software that's Priced to Your Studio Size and Needs Okay, not every yoga studio wants to expand and build a huge business. That's why yoga software that scales is key. What I mean by this is yoga software that accommodates both small and huge yoga studios - and is priced according to need.

12. Look for software that offers different pricing packages so you can get a software package that serves your business as is - but has the capability to accommodate your growth - if that's what you do with your studio. For more click here For more click here

13. Exploring the Different Types of Yoga Exploring the Different Types of Yoga Yoga is generally understood as a process of unification. This unification is multifaceted. In one dimension, it is a unification of the various systems that exist within the human being including the emotional, physical, mental, and spiritual systems. In total there are believed to be five different systems within human life. These are typically referred to as the koshas which are the physical, energetic, mental, subtle, and bliss sheaths. In our current understanding of yoga, we are working to unify these five bodies or layers of the human being. Another process of unification occurs between of the individual consciousness and the universal consciousness. This unification is often referred to as Samadhi and is one of the primary transformations that occur within the practice of yoga. Observing this from a different angle, Samadhi is a transformation of perception in which disillusionments about the world are reformed so that the truth behind reality can be seen in its purest of form. Yoga, as a system, has developed into various branches through which people pursue the evolution and unification of the elements within their being. Each branch retains its own unique set of ideas and philosophies which defined the process and eventual obtainment of complete unification. There is no right or wrong system of yoga as the each possesses their own distinct characteristics that accommodate the needs of various characteristics and personalities that exist among human beings. Each system is designed to accommodate a different personality type, and yoga has developed into a broad reaching system that can be practiced by nearly anyone who is interested in pursuing a spiritual life. A practice like Jnana yoga is ideal for someone who is

14. philosophically minded whereas the practice of bhakti yoga is good for someone who is emotionally perceptive and inclined towards a sense of devotion. In this article we will be reviewing the more mainstream practices of yoga which are derived from the tradition of yogic spirituality. These traditions of yoga are as young as 500 years and as old as several thousand. While there are many modern practices of yoga which have been defined by various teachers, the systems we will be discussing are traditional systems which have been in existence throughout many generations. Bhakti Yoga The first system we will discuss it is Bhakti yoga. Bhakti yoga is a practice in which the spiritual practitioner focuses on developing a state of devotion within the mind and the heart. In bhakti yoga a strong sense of faith is needed as one is expected to submit themselves to God through a process of self surrendering. The practices and techniques of bhakti yoga are therefore designed

15. to help surrendered the ego and embrace with love the thought of the creator. The more common practices of bhakti yoga are kirtan (chanting/song), japa (mantra repetition), and meditation on the divine. Usually the practice of bhakti yoga is advised to be practiced by those who are well connected to their emotions and also receptive of more subtle feelings within themselves and others. Emphatic love defines the practice of bhakti yoga as the practitioner devotes their whole being towards the spiritual divine. A belief in God or a higher being is vital to the practice, and without it, it is near to impossible to practice bhakti yoga. The devotion that is practiced by the bhakti Yogi is not one of slavery towards the divine. Rather, it is a relationship that is filled with love, friendship, and companionship. In bhakti yoga people view God as a friend, a lover, a father, or mother. It is through this relationship that bhakti yoga is practiced. There are many aspects of devotion for the bhakti yogi; there are many forms of God that are worshiped in yoga including Shiva, Vishnu, Brahman, Parvatti, etc. Aside from the metaphysical forms of God, a guru or teacher can also be worshiped within the practice. The primary purpose of this practice is to help in relinquishing the ego and unifying the individual being with the universal. Karma Yoga Karma is an aspect of human life that is responsible for our thoughts, feelings, and actions. It is believed in yoga that Karma keeps the cycle of rebirth in motion as past actions and events force us to take another life in the world to balance out the inequalities that we have imposed within our spirit and the universe. Once accumulated Karmic merit is balanced or destroyed then cycle of birth and death is stopped and the spirit is return to its origins within the universal divine. The practice of Karma yoga directly addresses this primary aspect of life, works to abolish the effects of Karma with disciplined action that formulates a separation between the individual and the effects of Karma. This

16. separation occurs through a process of disassociation in which the individual separates themselves from the benefits or losses from their actions within the world. The practice of Karma yoga is typically based around one's Dharma or duties within the world. Dharma is determined by the actions of the individual in the past, including both the past of the current life as well as the past of previous lives. In some respects, Dharma is the most effective way for an individual to use their time on earth for spiritual progress as it is based upon the realistic capacities and potential of the individual. One of the main components of Dharma is acting in the world without thought of the benefits or losses of one's actions. The practitioner lives and acts within the world without any expectations or imposed impressions of how the future should unfold. The mind is focused on selfless service and working for the benefit of the greater good as opposed to the independent needs of the individual. In Karma yoga the practice is gradual as the

17. individual slowly relinquishes the bonds of karma and liberates the spirit from the confines of egocentric thought processes. Although a Karma yogi may practice techniques such as the asanas, breathing practices, and meditations, the primary focus of their spiritual practice is service and actions with the focus of selflessness and humbleness. The first mention of Karma yoga is within the Bhagavad-Gita in a dialogue between Arjuna and Krishna. In this dialogue, Krishna informs Arjuna that he can merge his consciousness with Krishna's when he surrenders his actions to the divine (which in this case is Krishna). Krishna encourages Arjuna to act and follow out his duty without worry or consideration of the benefits or losses of his actions. He informs Arjuna that acting in the name of Krishna (or divine) will provide him with the liberation that he has set forth to achieve. Kundalini Yoga Kundalini yoga is a practice of yoga which originated from the practice of tantra yoga. Historically speaking, tantra yoga is believed to be one of the oldest forms of spirituality which is still in practice today. One of the key components of tantra yoga is the incorporation of kundalini which is considered to be the primordial force existence within each human being. The practice of Kundalini yoga was formed to control and harness the potential of the kundalini energy within the body. Unlike the other systems of yoga, kundalini yoga can be a highly unstable practice of yoga as the release of kundalini energy can lead to extreme psychological and physical disorders if not controlled in the proper manner. Therefore, the practice of kundalini yoga is a highly advanced system which is usually only practiced by those who are well advanced in the practices of

18. spirituality. One of the primary prerequisites of kundalini yoga is a strong mind and a healthy body without which the release of kundalini energy can be damaging or even fatal. Even a specific term in psychology known as kundalini syndrome has been developed for those who have gone into dementia because of the improper release of kundalini energy. In kundalini yoga the techniques presented are designed to help awaken the kundalini energy. Aside from its definition as the primordial energy, kundalini is also known as the serpent energy. Prior to its awakening, the kundalini energy rests at the base of the spine in the form of a spiraled coil similar to that of a serpent. When released, the kundalini energy shoots up through the spine, making its way towards the crown of the head. Depending upon the purification of the energy channels along the spinal column known as chakras, the kundalini will either reach its final destination and the head or will be stuck within one of the chakras. Usually kundalini yoga starts by purifying all the chakras. This purification helps to maintain a balance flow of prana within the body. It is believed that a balance flow of prana within the body leads to a sound state of mind and body. Once the body, mind, and pranic channels are purified, the practitioner of kundalini yoga works to release the kundalini energy. The purification process an essential

19. quality of the practice as it helps to ensure a smooth flow of kundalini energy through the chakra system. For both the purification of the chakras as well as the release of kundalini energy a wide variety of techniques are implemented. These include yoga asanas (postures), pranayamas (breathing practices), meditations, and mudra (gestures) specifically designed to help regulate the pranic energy and awaken kundalini. Unlike some of the other systems of yoga, kundalini yoga should never be practiced through self training. It is vital that one who is interested in practicing kundalini yoga finds an adept practitioner and teacher of this system of yoga to guide them through the process. Without such guidance, it is likely that severe physical and mental disorders will arise as kundalini energy is a highly potent element within the human body that is not meant to be tempered with unless the body, mind, and pranic channels are fully purified. There are countless tales of individuals who released kundalini yoga prematurely and found themselves in a disoriented and neurotic state. There are many books published on kundalini yoga and those who have experienced kundalini energy always advise to have a highly knowledgeable and observant teacher to guide a practitioner through the system of kundalini yoga. Hatha Yoga The word hatha has several meanings. Typically it is divided up into two individual words, ha and tha. The meaning of these words can be interpreted as the sun and the moon. It can also be said that these two words are Beeja Mantras or primordial sounds that are responsible for composing matter. At the same time, ha represents the pranic body while tha is that of the mental body. Whichever interpretation one chooses to believe or follow, an essential component of hatha yoga is a balancing of the polarities of energy within the body (ida and pingala) as well as a purification of the mind and the body.

20. Most people, in a modern context, consider hatha yoga to be a practice of the physical body. While this is not incorrect, hatha yoga includes many more philosophies and techniques that address more subtle aspects of the human system. One of the essential components of hatha yoga is the element of purification. In hatha yoga purification occurs within the many aspects of the human being; there is a purification of the physical, mental, and energetic, and emotional bodies. It is believed that once all of the bodies are purified than spiritual advancement towards self liberation can occur. Unlike Raja yoga, which we will discuss later, hatha yoga does not outline a prerequisite of moral values before conducting the techniques of yoga. Rather, hatha yoga begins with the yoga postures or asanas and the energetic purification techniques of pranayama. Once a considerable understanding of these two practices is attained, more advanced techniques including Shatkarmas (body cleansing), Pranayamas (nadhi cleansing), Mudras (energy channeling), Bundhas (energy locks), and other techniques which lead towards Samadhi (self-realization) can be practiced.

21. Similar to most practices of yoga, hatha yoga maintains the belief that techniques such as meditation and concentration should only be practiced after the body and the mind having purified. Without such preparation it is useless to practice meditation as no benefit will be received from the practice. Hatha yoga originated from a number of texts all of which were written between 500-1500 A.D. In comparison to the other forms of yoga we are discussing, hatha yoga is the youngest of them all with its major text the Hatha Yoga Pradipika being finalized in the 16th century. Hatha yoga could be considered to be a preliminary practice to more advanced systems of yoga, however it possesses within itself the capability to lead towards spiritual liberation. A more modest system of yoga, hatha yoga can be practiced by most people and does not require a well established mind and body to begin the practice. Therefore, it is a practice used by many who wish to use yoga as an aid towards spiritual freedom. Raja Yoga Raja yoga is considered the Royal path and is literally translated as royal union from Sanskrit. The system of Raja yoga is derived from the teachings of Patanjali in the Yoga Sutras which were written between 100 and 300 A.D. Some may also refer to this system of yoga has Ashtanga Yoga, however Raja yoga has been the traditional terminology used for the practice of yoga guided by Ptanjali's Yoga Sutras and some distinctions separate the two from one another. Here, we are primarily concerned with the traditional system of Raja yoga which has been practiced in India since the origins of the Sutras. Raja yoga is a path of intuition and also psychic perception. Therefore these two facilities are needed in order for spiritual growth to occur. Some spiritual masters like Swami Tureyananda believe that Raja yoga is practiced after one has obtained substantial transformation through preliminary practices of yoga.

22. Even still some other teachers believe that the practice of Raja yoga is commenced after preliminary states of Samadhi are experienced. Therefore, Raja yoga is not a practice for the vast majority of people. In the yoga sutras, Patanjali lightly outlines the prerequisites for the more advanced techniques of yoga. The vast majority of the yoga sutras are devoted to understanding and controlling the mind including its four components of Chitta, Buddhi, Manas and Ahamkara. Considerable attention is given to how the mind works and operates as well as the various levels and dimensions that exist within the mind. For more click here For more click here

23. The remainder of the text discusses the stages through which one experience along the path towards self-realization, and attention is given to all the various pitfalls that can arise along the way. The system of Raja yoga is generally outlined in defined within the "8 limbed path." These limbs include: Yama- code of conduct and self restraint Niyama- religious observances, devotion to ones practice, and discipline Asana- formation of a stable seat for both the mind and the body Pranayama- regulation of breath which leads to a unification and balance between the body and the mind Pratyahara- withdrawal of the sensory organs of perception from the external environment including all five senses (six if you include the mind) Dharana- concentration Dhyana- meditation Samadhi- self realization, or a super conscious state of being. Together these eight limbs form the practice and systematic approach of Raja Yoga. Like kundalini yoga, Raja yoga requires a significant amount of guidance and direction without which many problems and ultimate failure will arise. It is therefore essential that one who is interested in practicing Raja yoga finds a teacher or guru who has perfected the system and has achieved a true state of self-realization. Jnana Yoga The practice of Jana yoga is easily understood within the two words 'Jana' and 'Yoga' which together mean 'Union through Wisdom.' the practice of Jana yoga is a very practical system for the Western mind which usually approaches things through the intellect and rational deduction. While ultimately

24. these two aspects are abandoned later in the path, Jana yoga begins with intellectual inquiry and rational observation. While Jana yoga encourages a belief in God or the supreme, it does not necessitate the belief and therefore it can even be used by those who are rational atheists. The techniques used in Jana yoga are primarily concerned with a process of deduction in which one observes all aspects of life. A process of self inquiry and questioning is undertaken as the practitioner gradually removes the illusions and misperceptions of the mind as they work towards the truth of their most basic nature. The practice of Jana yoga can be understood within the simple Sanskrit phrase "Neti, Neti," which is openly translated as not this, not that. In Jana yoga one removes the various layers of the onion of their mind until they reached the core which is no-thingness or unmanifested. Jana yoga has four major guidelines which helped to lead to the practitioner towards self-realization. As Jana yoga is primarily a system of inquiry, it does not require techniques such as pranayama and asanas in order to achieve self-realization. The four guidelines of the Jana Yogi include: Viveka- Discrimination (between truth and not truth); Vairagya- Dispassion (from attachment world and the mind/body); Shad-sampat- Six Virtues (tranquility, dama (sensory control), uparati (renunciation), titiksha (endurance), shraddha (faith), and samadhana (concentration)); and Mumukshutva- longing for liberation.

25. Conclusion If you have read this article for the sake of finding a system of yoga to help you grow spiritually, it would be advisable to do further research into the systems that seem compatible to your needs and character. Not every individual is practicing yoga for the sake of self-realization. Each system of yoga provides its own unique benefits that evolve from the practice and therefore can be practiced without the intention of achieving self-realization. While the ultimate goal of yoga is liberation, there are many benefits of the practice that naturally occur as the body, mind, and energy within the human being are purified. As mentioned previously, if you decide to take up the practice of Raja yoga or kundalini yoga it is best to seek an experienced guide before commencing the practice. However, ultimately, every system of yoga requires a guru or adept practitioner who can direct the student through a specific system of yoga. Each style that we have mentioned above is unique and there is no right or wrong one, or one that is better than the other. In actuality, there are thousands of different styles of yoga, yet the ones we have mentioned are the primary branches for the practical side of yoga. When choosing a practice, select one that seems to possess characteristics that are in harmony with your personality and individuality. Starting from there will give you a good relationship to your practice and make it easier to gradually introduce it into your life on a daily basis. A consistent practice provides the greatest opportunity for self-growth and transformation. For more click here For more click here

26. Ashram Yoga Ashram Yoga - - The Spiritual Tradition of Yoga From Past The Spiritual Tradition of Yoga From Past to Present to Present The History of Yoga and its Growth, Change, and Development Yoga began its emergence into civilization some 10,000 years ago through the Tantric tradition. Evidence of deities resembling Shiva and Parvati were found in the Indus Valley civilization after archaeologists began to excavate numerous statues from ancient city grounds, reminiscence of the 10,000 year old tradition. This was the yoga of the pre-Vedic, pre-Aryan age, in which the top the tradition flourished throughout various parts of India. Shiva being the central figure in a majority of these recovered statutes gives evidence to the historical doctrine that denotes Shiva as the founder of the yogic system. In the yogic tradition, Shiva is traditionally considered to be the symbol of supreme consciousness. His partner and counter force is Parvati, who represents supreme knowledge, will and action. For about the is also responsible for all creation as she is the acting force within the universe. This force or energy is also known as kundalini shakti, the cosmic force which is dormant within all living beings. Our Rusty is also regarded as the mother of the entire universe. Her grace and guidance is responsible for the liberation of the soul, releasing the individuals from the bondage of worldly matter. Concho said to be imparted to humans through Parvati out of love and compassion for her children. Yoga was a manifestation an extension of the Tantric system. Just as Shiva and Parvati are inseparable, so too are tantra and the yogic system.

27. Tantra is derived from two Sanskrit words, those of tanoti and trayati. Trayati means liberation and Tanoti literally translated as expansion. We can then assume that tantra is the science of expanding the consciousness and liberating the energy known as shakti within the body. Tantra is the way to attain liberation from the bondage is of the world in the physical identification with the body and objects associated with it. In tantra we pursue the path of liberation by first understanding and gaining insight into the limitations and capacities of the body and mind. After we have understood these limitations, we then begin to explore the expansion of consciousness which eventually leads to the liberation of energy within the body. After we have crossed these various levels the individual consciousness expands and is liberated into the universal consciousness which permeates through the entire universe. The yoga of yore For a long time in history yoga was a secret system with its practices and techniques hidden from public view. In ancient times yoga was an oral tradition, its teachings and practices number inscribed or written on parchment. Only through the guru disciple relationship was the teachings of yoga revealed, and only to

28. those who are ready to study the spiritual practices and techniques. This system was very productive and useful as it ensured clear understanding and a strong relationship between the disciple, the guru, and a spiritual teachings. Much importance was given to the personal experience of the yogic system, and the correct path was outlined by the guru who helped remove any confusions or ignorance regarding the spiritual practices and techniques. Only through sincere aspiration with the guru's guide their disciples; disciples who pursued too much intellectual contemplation or were seeking the path of yoga in order to gain boons or powers were denied the teachings and access to the knowledge of yoga. The first time that yoga was written in the book are inscribed on paper was within the ancient tantras. Later it was also revealed through the Vedas which were written sometime around 500 BC. Although the Vedas do not give any particular reference to any spiritual practices or techniques, they do you know the system of yoga through metaphors and symbolic representation. It is said that the Vedas were revealed to me rishis and saints who were immersed in a deep yogic state of meditation known as samadhi. It wasn't until the Upanishads that yoga began to take a definite shape and noticeable form within a written system. The Upanishads contained the essence of the Vedas, revealing the most essential points inscribed in the numerous books that collectively made the Vedas. The Upanishads are said to be the culmination of the Vedas and together they make up the a Vedantic. The next significant texts in the history of yoga was the Patanjali yoga Sutras which are said to have been written in the second century A.D. Patanjali's yoga sutras formed the raja yoga system, a definite and unified perspective of yoga with

29. references to techniques, philosophy, and spiritual ideals. Patanjali's yoga sutras are often referred to as the eight fold path of yoga. The eighth sequences consisted of yama(self-restraint), niyama (self observance), asana, pranayama, pratyahara(withdrawal of the senses),dharana (concentration), dhyana (meditation), and samadhi. Whether practiced in sequence or as a complete system the eight fold path provided a clear perspective of the spiritual path. It also gave an outline for how to accomplish the unification of individual consciousness with the universal cosmos. Later in the sixth century BC yoga began to adopt the Buddha's meditation practices as well as the ethical and moral philosophy that later became the outline for Buddhism. Unfortunately this transition and adaptation removed a lot of the preparatory practice that were designed by the yogis to prepare one for meditation practices, many of which are necessary and often times vital to the preliminary preparation for contemplation and concentration. Yoga philosophy believes that before any meditation practice can be done the elements of the body and mind must be balanced in harmony with one another. For this reason Gorakhnath presented an extended series of practices to prepare the body for meditation. These practices were later employed as the hatha yoga

30. system. Later one of the major authorities on hatha yoga composed the hatha yoga pradipikia, a text that is widely used today and is referred to as Light on Yoga. The practice of yoga in the 20th and 21st century. While the spiritual philosophy and practices of yoga have endorsed a higher order of living and thinking, today yoga has been disseminated for a wide variety of purposes and practices, some spiritual, some not. Although many people practice yoga in order to gain wisdom of the spiritual life, there are also many who utilize yoga in order to aid in the health, fitness, stability, balance, and well-being of the human body, mind, and soul. With modern language in mind, many forms of yoga have emerged including yoga psychology, yoga therapy, yoga fitness, yoga dance, and just about any synergy imaginable especially those associated with the arts and other forms of self-expression although we have not the time to discuss all of these. What makes yoga fundamentally one of the most successful systems for human well-being is the fact that yoga practically and systematically works with all the aspects of the human body, mind, emotions, and spirit. Yoga is a holistic principle which works to unify the various elements in the body. Once these elements have been balanced than unification with higher orders can be achieved including that of community unification, harmony with nature, and merging with the cosmic divine. But these higher orders do not have to be pursued in order for yoga to be useful. Today yoga has successfully been used as an alternative form of therapy for diseases, disorders, and dysfunctions.

31. Yet this modern development has not prevented or limited the existence of the traditional science of yoga, one which revolves around principles of spirituality and higher goals for human life. Fundamentally, yoga still exists as a science and practice which can be used in order to expand the elements of the human mind, body, and spirit, influencing each of these levels of human existence in order to enhance the quality of life. Ultimately yoga can lead one towards the divine which is also recognized as a sense or being of universal theme, one in which the infinite elements in the universe are united under one cosmic force and consciousness which are responsible for all of existence. The modern expression of yoga combined with the ancient traditions of India have led yoga into a new dimension of philosophy, psychology, medicine, therapy, and spiritual science of which all are practiced both domestically in India and nearly all other countries abroad. Yoga is no longer limited by the confines of society and has unfurled itself within a global society in which all individuals can seek refuge under the spiritual order and science of yoga. As people begin to explore full potential of consciousness, life's fundamental purpose is revealed and our true nature is expressed in its fullest form. Although Indian's have benefited from the science of yoga for nearly 10,000 years, yoga is now making its way into the daily lives of people all over the globe. Whether it is introduced as a medicinal practice or a technique for building muscles and agility, yoga eventually carries each individual towards the higher goals that are embedded in the practices and techniques outlined by the yogic science.

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